
Country Star Shares Longtime Connection With This VOICE Coach
By Movieguide® Contributor
Country star Kelsea Ballerini is joining THE VOICE as a coach — and crediting another former coach for inspiring her music career.
In a conversation with Season 27’s other coaches — Adam Levine, John Legend and Michael Bublé — Ballerini explained that Kelly Clarkson has “weirdly kind of been consistent throughout my whole career. She started it for me.”
“I was seeing her in Knoxville at the arena, and it was her Behind These Hazel Eyes Tour. And so she had these two video screens above her stage of her eyes the whole show,” the singer shared. “So depending on the song, they would close, they would cry, they would wink, or whatever. I was just at the age where I knew I loved music. But I was like, ‘Do I want to do this? I don’t know how to, but I think I really love this.’”
READ MORE: THE VOICE WINNER RELEASES POWERFUL NEW SONG ALL ABOUT HIS TESTIMONY
The pair would even end up working together; Ballerini opened for Clarkson on her 2019 “Meaning of Life” tour, and the artists collaborated on the 2022 track “You’re Drunk, Go Home.”
In addition to her upcoming role as a coach on THE VOICE, Ballerini will be joining TODAY WITH JENNA & FRIENDS for a day of co-hosting duties, followed by fellow musicians like Jordin Sparks and Wynonna Judd.
“It’s a whole celebration of music,” the segment’s executive producer Talia Parkinson-Jones told PEOPLE. “The Grammys is the following weekend, and we’ve tailored all the content to [the hosts].”
Ballerini is also getting ready to head out on her “very first arena tour.”
“I can’t shy away from the absolute pinch me, teary eyed nature i’m feeling going into it,” she posted on Instagram. “So, so many incredible people have spent these last months pouring their ideas, hours, and magic into this show in hopes we honor the journey that has brought us here, and honors those of you that are so kindly showing up for it.”
READ MORE: MICHAEL BUBLÉ’S ADVICE FOR THE VOICE WINNER? ‘GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU’